California Services to Science Academy (CSSA) Cohort 2.0: Technical Support and Assistance for Promising and Innovative Prevention Programs
Can you apply?
This grant is for youth-serving nonprofits, tribal organizations, and county governments in California delivering substance use disorder (SUD) prevention programs. Applicants must be implementing locally developed and innovative prevention interventions. Organizations selected will receive up to $102,500 to plan and implement evaluation activities. The 15-month project runs December 1, 2026 through March 1, 2028, with required participation in monthly technical assistance and evaluation training.
Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofits, tribal organizations, and county agencies. Your organization must currently deliver primary SUD prevention services. You must be able to participate in ongoing evaluation training and Learning Collaboratives. No cost-sharing is required.
This grant is for youth-serving nonprofits, tribal organizations, and county governments in California delivering substance use disorder (SUD) prevention programs. Applicants must be implementing locally developed and innovative prevention interventions. Organizations selected will receive up to $102,500 to plan and implement evaluation activities. The 15-month project runs December 1, 2026 through March 1, 2028, with required participation in monthly technical assistance and evaluation training.
Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofits, tribal organizations, and county agencies. Your organization must currently deliver primary SUD prevention services. You must be able to participate in ongoing evaluation training and Learning Collaboratives. No cost-sharing is required.
Program description
The CSSA is a Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) program that provides an opportunity for primary prevention providers who are delivering locally developed and innovative substance use disorder (SUD) prevention interventions to generate evidence as either practices or case studies of intervention implementation or adaptation to serve as a resource on the Substance Use Prevention Evidence-Based Resource (SUPER) website for other prevention providers across the state. The CSSA Cohort 2.0 will support prevention providers seeking to generate and demonstrate credible evidence of effectiveness for locally developed and innovative prevention activities, with the goal of increasing the number of effective interventions to be featured on the SUPER website, thus strengthening prevention providers’ ability to address SUDs and behavioral health-related challenges across diverse communities. CSSA Cohort 2.0, managed by the University of California, Los Angeles Integrated Substance Use & Addiction Programs (UCLA-ISAP) will work with grantees to craft individualized, site-specific evaluation plans to help generate evidence of intervention impact. Additionally, there will be optional pre-planning meetings with each grantee site to review general evaluation strategies and skills and develop plans for training and technical assistance through monthly individual and group sessions to support grantees with customized feedback for ongoing data collection and reporting. Grantees will be expected to participate in mandatory ongoing evaluation training and technical assistance through monthly Learning Collaboratives, group sessions, individual check-ins, and coaching calls. Selected grantees will receive funding up to $102,500 per organization to be used to plan and implement individualized evaluation activities of the CSSA Cohort 2.0 across California. The project period is December 1, 2026 through March 1, 2028 (15-months). All eligible youth-serving non-profit community or tribal organizations, or counties must submit their completed applications online via a Qualtrics form embedded on the SUPER website no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on May 29, 2026.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for youth-serving nonprofits, tribal organizations, and county governments in California delivering substance use disorder (SUD) prevention programs. Applicants must be implementing locally developed and innovative prevention interventions. Organizations selected will receive up to $102,500 to plan and implement evaluation activities. The 15-month project runs December 1, 2026 through March 1, 2028, with required participation in monthly technical assistance and evaluation training.
Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofits, tribal organizations, and county agencies. Your organization must currently deliver primary SUD prevention services. You must be able to participate in ongoing evaluation training and Learning Collaboratives. No cost-sharing is required.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Completed Qualtrics application form (submitted online via SUPER website)
- Description of current prevention program and target population
- Preliminary evaluation plan or strategy
- Organizational documentation (501(c)(3) status or tribal/county government proof)
- Staff capacity and commitment statement for technical assistance participation
Program contact
- 📧 cssa@mednet.ucla.edu
- 📞 1-323-391-3460
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Youth-serving nonprofit community or tribal organizations, or county governments in California are eligible. Your organization must be delivering locally developed and innovative substance use disorder prevention interventions.
When is the deadline?
Applications are due May 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time via Qualtrics form on the SUPER website.
What will the funding support?
Grants up to $102,500 support planning and implementing individualized evaluation activities. Funding helps assess your intervention's impact and generate evidence for the SUPER website resource.
What is required of grantees?
Organizations must participate in mandatory monthly Learning Collaboratives, group sessions, individual check-ins, and coaching calls provided by UCLA-ISAP. Technical assistance and evaluation training are required throughout the project period.
What is the project timeline?
The 15-month project period runs from December 1, 2026 through March 1, 2028. Monthly technical assistance begins at project start and continues through the final month.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start preparing your application now. Clearly document your current prevention program's design and target population before May 29, 2026.
- Develop a preliminary evaluation plan showing how you will measure intervention outcomes. This demonstrates readiness for UCLA-ISAP's technical assistance.
- Highlight what makes your prevention approach locally developed and innovative. Explain how your program addresses specific community needs.
- Plan ahead for staff capacity to participate in monthly Learning Collaboratives and coaching calls. This is a mandatory commitment throughout the 15-month period.
- Review the SUPER website and existing evidence-based resources to understand how your evaluation findings will contribute to the field.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without a clearly defined, locally developed prevention program in operation. Organizations with generic or only nationally established programs may not fit the "innovative" requirement.
Failing to demonstrate commitment to the mandatory technical assistance and evaluation training schedule. DHCS expects active participation in monthly Learning Collaboratives and coaching.
Submitting vague evaluation plans that don't align with the CSSA's goal of generating credible evidence for the SUPER website. Your plan should specify measurable outcomes and data collection methods.
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